HEADLAND, ALABAMA — Larry Virgil Savelle, a man of steadfast faith and a beloved member of the Headland community, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday morning, February 2, 2026. He was 67 years old.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 P.M. Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Larry was born on December 15, 1958, to Virgil “Junior” and Rebecca Savelle. He lived a life defined by quiet strength, hard work, and unwavering devotion to his family and neighbors. Larry was a dedicated employee of the Auburn University Experiment Station, where he faithfully contributed his talents and labor until his retirement.
Larry’s life was firmly rooted in his faith. As an active deacon and long-time member of Hebron Baptist Church, he lived out his beliefs through service to others. He will be remembered not only for his commitment to his church family, but also for the joy and love he extended to everyone who crossed his path.
Larry’s greatest joy was found in his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Lynne Savelle; two sons, Bryan Savelle (April) and David Savelle; two grandsons, Carter Savelle and Lucas Urbano; one sister, Darlene Brown (Keith); a nephew, Josh Brown (Isle); and a great-niece, Savannah.
HEADLAND… Judy Lucille Riley Chancey, a resident of Headland, Alabama, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2026, at her home. She was 93.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 6, 2026, at Wright Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel with Pastor Tim Gay officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Center Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. prior to the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
The family request that contributions be made to Old Center Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Nancy Woods, 764 CR-89 Newville, Alabama 36353.
Mrs. Chancey was born in Newville, Alabama to the late Lyman Leroy Riley and Mabel Lillian Riley. She lived her entire life in the Newville, Alabama area until moving to Headland, Alabama six years ago. She was known for sweet smile and patient nature, leaving a lasting impact on all who knew her.
Judy, lovingly known as Maw-Maw, cherished spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. She found joy in reading, tending to her flowers, and solving puzzles. Her life was enriched by her involvement in the community as a lifelong, active member of the Old Center Methodist Church, participating actively until her health no longer permitted.
A testament to her resilience, Judy was a breast cancer survivor. She dedicated many years to her work at Village Cleaners, retiring in her late seventies.
Her memory will be cherished by all who were fortunate enough to know her, as she leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and perseverance.
Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Boyd Chancey; her sisters, Dorothy Elizabeth Riley Mills and husband Chester and Bonnie Riley Kirkland and husband, Jack; and a great-granddaughter, Allie Forrester.
Leaving to cherish her memories are her son, Charles Steven “Steve” Chancey; her granddaughters, Ashley Chancey Thorn (Shay), Brittany Chancey Turner (Dustin), Elizabeth Chancey Forrester (Wesley) and their mother, Sheila Chancey; her great-grandchildren, Evelyn Pybus, Stevie Louise Thorn, Lane Forrester, Teagan Forrester, Reagan Turner, and Kylie Turner; and her several nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Wesley Forrester, Shay Thorn, Corey Trawick, Dusty Trawick, Hunter Singleton, and Jody Singleton.
ECHO COMMUNITY…Mr. Edward A. “Eddie” Smith, a resident of the Echo Community, died Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2026, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 53.
Funeral services, with fire department honors, will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, February 6, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bryan Robbins officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mr. Smith was born on September 28, 1972, and grew up in the small town of Pinckard, where he learned the values of hard work, kindness, and community that shaped the rest of his life. He graduated from Dale County High School in 1992, and later from Wallace Community College in 1997 with a degree in Paramedicine—a field he chose because he truly wanted to help people.
Serving others wasn’t just something he did; it was who he was. He began his career with the Dothan Airport Fire Department in 1992, and in 1997 he joined the Dothan Fire Department, where he proudly served until his retirement in 2022. His coworkers knew him as someone they could count on, someone who stayed calm in the toughest moments, and someone who always put others first. After retiring, he continued his lifelong commitment to helping others by serving as the Director of Echo EMS. He also was a member of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT), serving as the medic. Earlier in his career, he also worked with Pilcher’s Ambulance and CARE Ambulance in Dothan, touching countless lives along the way.
Outside of work, he was happiest when surrounded by the people he loved. He enjoyed simple moments—spending time with family, cooking and entertaining, casting a line in the water, or heading into the woods to hunt. He especially cherished time with his grandchildren, who brought him endless joy. If it involved being outdoors or being with the people he cared about, he was content.
He was a man of faith and attended Ozark Baptist Church, where he found comfort, community, and purpose.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his grandfather, Max Thomley, and his paternal grandparents, Cody and Mamie Smith. Their memory remained close to his heart throughout his life.
He leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and quiet strength—one that will continue to live on in the many people who were blessed to know him.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Carolyn Smith, Echo Community; four sons, Houston Smith (Kayley) and their children, Annie Smith and Wyatt Smith, all of Skipperville, Haisten Smith (Chelsie), Peyton Hicks (Olivia), and Mason Swihart, all of Echo Community; his parents, Ray and Sherrie Thomley Smith, Pinckard; maternal grandmother, Yvonne Thomley, Pinckard; other relatives, Danny and Brenda Enfinger, Webb, Bryan and Marolyn Robbins, Prattville, and Michael and Anna Barron, Dothan; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Jake Robbins, Austin Robbins, Andy Smith, Danny Enfinger, Josh Burk and Mitchell Tucker. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the Dothan Fire Department, Echo Fire & Rescue, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
Mrs. Rebekah (Vinson) Saunders, 77, a resident of Dothan, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at her residence following an extended illness.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Glover Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Wiregrass Area Foodbank, 382 Twitchell Road, Dothan, Alabama 36303.
Mrs. Saunders was born July 9, 1948, in Cottonwood to the late Gordan Carey & Ruth (Seay) Vinson. She was a 1966 graduate of Dothan High School. Mrs. Saunders spent her life as a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Barbara Vinson Creamer; and her brother, Carey James Vinson.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jimmy Harold Saunders of Dothan; her son, Jimmy Harold Saunders, Jr. (Kelly) of Dothan; her two grandchildren, Lauren Brooke Saunders Jones (Tyler) of Dothan, and Logan Beth Saunders of Dothan; her brother, Jearld Vinson (Annette) of Dothan; her sister-in-law, Alberta Vinson of Dothan; and several nieces and nephews, and special friends Elouise Tindell and Tommy & Paula Alley; Rebekah was looking forward to the May Arrival of her first Great-Grandchild.
Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888.
Mark Andrew Locke, known as Mark to his family and friends, passed away on February 1, 2026, in Dothan, Alabama. He was born on January 3, 1961, in Douglas, Arizona, and later made his home in the Dothan/Newton area, where he spent much of his life.
Mark worked for many years as a welder at Factory Direct and also contributed his skills to various construction projects. He was known for his strong work ethic and took pride in doing quality work. Those who worked alongside him knew him as dependable and straightforward, someone who could always be counted on to get the job done.
Family was important to Mark, and he was deeply devoted to his loved ones. He is survived by his children, Anthony Locke, Grace Locke, and Johnathan Maxwell Locke. His grandchildren include Alan and Aiden Locke; Austin, Blake, and Pax Blair; Haven Carkins; Brittany Herring; and Alayna Hall. He is also survived by his significant other, Sylvia Sellers, and his brother, Billy Locke and sister, Patty. He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy Maxwell Locke and Carol Louise Locke.
Outside of work, Mark enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially grilling and tending to his garden. He was a loyal Alabama football fan and was known for his sarcastic sense of humor. Mark will be remembered as a steady presence in the lives of his family, a kind man who valued hard work, loyalty, and time spent with those he loved.
John. M. Mallia was born on May 1, 1927, in Valparaiso, Chile to United States of America citizens. The family lived in Chile until 1935 when due to his father’s employment moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where John attended school graduating from Balboa High School. John began his U.S. Government Service on April 7, 1949, with the U.S. Air Force Supply Division. On January 5, 1953, he was employed as a Canal Zone Customs Inspector, later he was promoted to a Canal Zone Investigator, With the Panama Canal Treaties, the Canal Zone Customs was terminated, and John spent the last few years of government service with the General Service Bureau. On July 14, 1982, John retired and moved to Dothan, Alabama. As a dutiful and unselfish son, he took care of his mother until her death on September 16, 1997. On November 13, 2019, John moved to Providence Living in Ozark, Alabama, where he was living at the time of his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Felix Mallia; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Earl Mullins, Sr., his brother, Louis Mallia. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Mallia (Janice) of Mandeville, Louisiana; his nephew, James Mullins (Karen) of Arnold, Maryland, whom were constantly there to help him through the years. Also, many nieces and nephews; grand and great-great nieces and nephews. John was a long-time member of the Panama Canal Society and enjoyed reading the Canal Record.
A memorial service to honor John’s life and service will be held at 1:00 PM on February 7, 2026, at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, 2414 Hartford Highway, Dothan, Alabama.
